320 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 3 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to in¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whether it is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
Plowing Rye Under; Spray for Curculio. 
L. N. S., Ogontz, 0.—1. When is the best 
time to plow under rye to get the best re¬ 
sults from it for potatoes to be planted in 
June? I have always plowed it under just 
before it came in head. 2. Can I keep the 
curculio off my plums by spraying with 
arsenic? 
Ans. —1. We plow rye under just be¬ 
fore the head forms, and always roll af¬ 
terwards in order to pack the ground 
hard. If this is not done the ground is 
left too loose and open, and dries out 
quickly. 2. No, we doubt whether spray¬ 
ing alone will keep off the curculio. Read 
the article on page 303. 
Cow Peas for Wheat and Fertilizer. 
W. C., Brownfield, Pa.— I wish to grow a 
crop of somethin# this Summer to plow 
under in August to improve the land, which 
I intend to seed to wheat in September. 
Will you advise me whether Whippoorwill 
or Black cow pea, Canada held pea, or Soy 
beans would best secure the object I have 
in view? The field is underdrained bottom 
land, sandy loam. 
An'S. —From our experience we advise 
a crop of cow peas sown just after corn 
planting, either broadcast or in drills as 
preferred. Broadcasting requires most 
seed. We prefer Black to Whippoorwill 
for the purpose you mention. The vines 
will be nearly matured by the middle of 
September, and in good condition for 
plowing under. Whippoorwill is a later 
variety and the vines will be green. It 
would pay you to use 300 pounds of acid 
phosphate and 75 pounds of muriate of 
potash per acre when sowing the cow 
peas. 
Chemical Fertilizers for Tomatoes. 
R. P. J., Whitneyville, Conn.— Will fertilizer 
produce a good crop of tomatoes without 
barnyard manure? What is the best kind 
of fertilizer for tomatoes on sod land, also 
on sandy loam that has been cropped with 
vegetables? What do you consider the best 
way to apply fertilizer, to broadcast and 
plow in, or mix in the hills at time ot 
planting? At what rate and in what way 
should nitrate of soda be applied in order 
to hasten the maturing of tomato crop? 
Ans. —Any good chemical fertilizer 
containing about four per cent of nitro¬ 
gen, eight of phosphoric acid and 10 of 
potash should produce a fair crop of to¬ 
matoes on sod land, if applied at the 
rate of 800 to 1,000 pounds per acre. 
Land previously cropped with vegetables 
should be in good condition, but would 
likely be benefited by stable manure to 
restore humus or fiber in the soil. Grow¬ 
ers of cannery tomatoes use both manure 
and fertilizers, applying as much as they 
can afford. If a full quantity of chemical 
fertilizer is to be used, half would better 
be applied broadcast after plowing and 
harrowed in, and the remainder worked 
in hills before setting plants. Planters 
often claim that they get a better stand 
when hills or rows are enriched with fer¬ 
tilizers instead of manure, as the newly- 
set plants are not so likely to dry out. 
Nitrate of soda is best applied a small 
handful to each plant, a foot or more 
away from the stem, after the fruit be¬ 
gins to set, and the application repeated 
two weeks later on the other side of the 
plant. It should be immediately mixed 
with the soil by the hoe or cultivator. 
Nitrate of soda does not hasten matur¬ 
ity, but greatly stimulates the plants and 
renders them more fruitful if not already 
overfed with nitrogen; 150 to 200 pounds 
of nitrate of soda is enough for an acre 
of tomatoes. After many experiments 
the New Jersey Station suggests the fol¬ 
lowing mixture for tomatoes on good 
soil: Four hundred pounds nitrate of 
soda, 700 pounds tankage, 400 pounds 
acid phosphate, 500 pounds muriate of 
potash. For a poorer soil the following 
mixture is suggested: Five hundred 
pounds nitrate of soda, 500 pounds tank¬ 
age, 400 pounds acid phosphate, 600 
pounds muriate of potash, 400 pounds 
per acre. 
Tales of a Nursery Rogue. 
W. C., Westport, Ind.—A. fruit agent was 
here last Winter selling bush strawberries; 
plants that he said did not make any run¬ 
ners, but grew up about 18 inches high; 
they did not need any mulch and would 
not winterkill. He said they propagated 
them by taking up and dividing the roots. 
He was selling them at $40 per 1,000. Do 
you know of any such strawberry? He was 
also selling seedling apple trees, and he 
sold lots of them; he claimed that they 
were far better than budded or grafted 
trees. He was selling for the Pan Handle 
Nurseries. 
Ans. —There is a “bush” sport of the 
Parker Earle strawberry which does not 
often make runners, and is propagated 
by division. It was claimed to be a good 
thing, but we have not heard much about 
it lately. No strawberry grows 18 inches 
high, and it is possible the worthless 
“strawberry-raspberry,” which is not a 
strawberry at all, may be furnished by 
a nursery making such claims. Any tree 
agent claiming that seedling apple trees 
are better than properly budded or graft¬ 
ed varieties is too ignorant or too great 
a liar to deal with. No seedling apple 
can be depended on to produce good 
fruit, though it may make a thrifty tree. 
Better let this agent and the nursery em¬ 
ploying him alone. 
Salt for Potatoes. 
C. F. P., Centreville, Pa.— Is salt a good 
fertilizer for the growing of potatoes, and 
what is its action on the soil? 
Ans. —We have had a few reports from 
farmers who use salt on potatoes, but 
the verdict of accurate experiments is 
against it. Salt is used on asparagus, 
chiefly, we think, to kill the weeds. The 
asparagus plant will grow in soil so full 
of salt that most weeds and grass are 
killed off. Grain growers far from the 
sea coast say that 300 pounds of salt per 
acre will give a stiffer and harder straw. 
Ten or 12 years ago there was a large 
trade in refuse salt as fertilizer, and 
glowing accounts were printed from 
those who used it. Of late years little 
has been heard from it. Salt does not 
appear to act directly as a plant food. 
It probably acts in the soil to set free 
potash and to some extent the silicates. 
Thus it adds for a time to the supply of 
soluble potash but, as is the case with 
plaster, after a time this action stops 
and no further benefit is observed. Salt 
also is said to retard the formation of 
soluble nitrate in the soil. On rich soils 
where grain is apt to grow so fast that it 
weakens and falls down, the salt might 
stop this rapid growth and give a strong¬ 
er stalk. Salt also seems to retard the 
formation of starch, and on such crops 
as sugar beets gives a poor quality. 
While it may prevent scab on potatoes 
it would be quite sure to give soggy 
tubers of poor shape and quality. We 
would not use it. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
ANJOU 
THE FINEST WINTER 
PEAR. 
Standard, - $10 per 100 
Dwarf, - - $5 per 100 
FOR FIRST-CLASS TREES, 
ON CARS ROCHESTER. 
Ellwanger& Barry, 
Nursery men-Horticulturists, 
Established 1840. ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
Cheap Surplus Stock 
In good condition for planting. 
5,000 No. 1 Peach Trees at 5 cents 
5,000 No. 2 Peach Trees at 4 cents 
In good Standard Varieties. 
30,000 Palmetto, Barr’s and Conover’s Aspara¬ 
gus, two-year strong plants, at $5 per thousand; 
one-year plants, at $3 per thousand. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County. Box 1, Cornwall, N. Y. 
m 
K TpEESSUCCEED WHERE 
_ ^Targest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. . 
r Fruit Book Free. Result of J 7 years’ experience. 
STAKE BROS., Louisiana, Mo., Dunsvllle, N. Y. 
FIRST-CLASS 
Standard Apple Trees. 
Can ship same day order is received. 
List of varieties on application. 
Western New York Nursery Co. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
lCAfiun Front 1TPIK~ BaIsanl Fir ’ Arbor Vitae, 
h alive LmftULUO American Spruce, ti to 12 In., 
$4 per 1,000; 5,000 for 815; White Pine and Hemlock, 
$5 per 1,000: 5,000 for $20. Transplanted Evergreens 
lowest prioes. Also Fruit Trees all kinds. Write for 
price list. Mrs. James A. Root, Skaneateles, N. Y. 
For Sale 
500 bushels Early Black Cow 
Peas at $1.75 per bu.; 600 bush¬ 
els Delaware-grown Crimson Clover Seed at $3 per 
bu.; 500 bushels second-growth Seed Potatoes at $3.30 
bbl.; or $1.10 per bu. J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
Vegetable Plants. 
Asparagus—Conover’s Colossal, very strong, $3; 
Celery, White Plume. $1; Horseradish Sets, $1.50 per 
1,000 and up. Send 5 cents for sample of above. 
Rhubarb, strong seedlings and divided old clumps, $3 
per 100; $25; per 1.000. Cash. LUDWIG MOSBAJK, 
8500 Anthony Avenue, South Chicago, 111. 
Raise Cane 
and avoid the terrible effects and losses | 
of a drouth like that of last year. 
Fifty pounds of our 
Amber Cane Seed 
sown broadcast on an acre of good ground I 
Vwill produce 10 tons or more of succulent I 
green fodder. Drilled in and cultivated, I 
it produces upwards of 50 tons of I 
green fodder or ensilage per acre. Un- [ 
equalled as a catch crop in drouthy sea¬ 
sons. May be pastured, soiled or cured. 
All stock eat it greedily. Catalogue free. 
FRICE(bngs frep)—100lbs.,$5 : 50lbs., 
$2.75; 25 lbs.,$1.60, nnd 10 lbs , 75c. ] 
Vaughan’s Seed Store, 
84 and 86 Randolph Street* CHICAGO, 
or 14 Barclay St.* NEW YORK. 
200,000 
Asparagus Roots 
Two years; very fine, at $3 per 1,000. 
Columbian White, Donald’s Elmira, 
Barr’s Mammoth, Conover’s 
Colossal and Palmetto. 
Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of Trees and 
Shrubs on application. 
THE WM. H. MOON CO., 
MORRISVILLE, PA. 
the Johnson Curculio M»- 
M7* chine for catching the 
Curcnllo, which stings the fruit of the PLUM 
and PEACH. Address 
C. H. HARROW, Geneva, N. Y. 
ESTABLISHED 1824. 
H l C H - G R A D E 
Carden Seeds 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE 
37 East Nineteenth Street, New York 
Descriptive Illustrated Catalogue mailed free 
to all applicants. 
Potatoes 
—Selected Seed. Price List Free. 
E. M. MARVIN. Sun, Mich. 
Potatoes—Bovee, Carman, Jumbo, Enormous,Dela¬ 
ware, SirWalter,Rose.85 kinds. C.W .Ford, Fishers.N.Y. 
[5 . . Carman No. 3. Practically every 
E3 LI ■ eye will give you a strong, thrifty 
plant and maximum yield. E. A. HILL,Windham,N.Y 
$1 
OARMAN No.3 $4.00 
SEED POTATOES. Per B bl. 
Dewey and Sir Walter Raleigh. $1 per bbl .all bbls. 
4 bus : Pingree and W Mammoth $5 per bbl Wholesale 
listfree. GEO A BONNELL, Waterloo, N. Y. 
POTATOES 
CORN AN D 
_ ___ _ BEANS 
White Crystal Field Beans were insect-proof; yield 
50 bushels, nice size; postage for sample, price. Best 
four sorts Field Corn. Canada Peas, $1.50. bags free. 
Potatoes—White Giant, Carman. Sir Walter Ra¬ 
leigh, and earliest choice stock. Write wants. 
Barred Rock Eggs. 18. $1: 30, $1.50: 100. $3. Beauties. 
SMITH'S POTATO FARM. Manchester, N.Y. 
Potted Strawberry Plants, Juiy I. 
T. C. KEVITT, Athenta. N. J. 
Ctrouihorflne - ' For e arUest and best plant Lady 
OlldWUclllCO Norwood. For best plant Success. 
I also grow for sale Nick Ohmer, Gandy. Sample and 
Excelsior. AH plants from 1901 beds. 
B. W. JENKINS, Dover, Del. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
The Marie is a record breaker, good size 
and shape, dark crimson, fmestquality, very 
productive, most attractive i n appearance. An 
exceptionally fine selling berry on the mark¬ 
et. We have a largestock ofextra fine plants 
in this nnd 60 other choice varieties. Catalog of plant., 
treesand everything for orchard and garden free. 
Harrison’s Nurseries, Box 29, Berlin, Md. 
TREES 
M DCO inn APPLE, PEAR, PLUM and PEACH, healthy, true to name 
■ Ell lUUs and Fumigated. All kindsof trees and plants at low whole¬ 
sale prices. Don’t buy until you get our catalogue, which is free, or sendllstof wants 
for special price. Address, RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 1, Geneva, New York. 
Rogers Troes are Safe Trees. 
THE TREE BREEDERS. 
DANSVILLE, N. Y. 
GRASS SEED 
CHOICE RE-CLEANED SEED FOR ALL PURPOSES 
Dreer’s Permanent Pasture Mixturo cannot be excelled 
for producing abundant hay crops, and luxurious after¬ 
math. Full line of all Grasses and Clovers; also special 
mixtures for Lawns, Golf Links, etc Circular and prices 
on application. 11ENKY A. 11KEER, Pliila., I’a. 
Don’t Butcher Your Sheep. 
THE DAY of the old-fashioned Hand Shears (or bleeders) is past. SAVE *20c. per Sheep on every Sheep you shear with the 
Marvelous Stewart Sheep-Shearing Machine. 
IQAO MmbIaI Price ’ including four Combs, four OlQ CA 
IvUfc BvlOuSI Cutters and Knife Sharpener, only tplOaUU 
Awarded Highest and Only Award at the Pan-American 
Exposition. Used and indorsed by Thousands and 
Thousands of the best Breeders in America and Europe. 
The advantages of Machine Shearing are well known to all 1st - No longer any need to have your sheep butchered or hacked. 2nd —No Second 
Cuts in Wool. 3rd Machine Shorn Wool always brings a higher price. 4th~ The great saving in extra wool obtained, which amounts to about 
One Pound per head, more than covers the whole cost of shearing. 5th— The very greatly improved appearance of sheep after shearing. 6th —Sheep 
can be sent to market immediately or can be dipped as there are No Cuts to heal. 7th —No skilled labor required. 8th —You will be Proud of your 
gheep when shorn in this up-to-date, Humane manner. 
No owner of Ten sheep or more can afford to shear by band, even though the work can be done for nothing. With little experience an operator 
should have no difficulty in shearing 100 sheep or more per day. Send to-day for valuable book illustrated with elegant half-tone engravings, showing proper 
positions of fast and easy shearing by R. M. Marquis, champion of the world; record 360 sheep shorn in one day. It is FREE and will save you money, 
CHICAGO FLEXIBLE SHAFT CO.,143 La Salle Avo., CHicago, Ill. 
EBB 
